Gaming machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a gaming machine comprising a gaming ball detection device for detecting a gaming ball having passed through a predetermined region of a gaming member provided on a gaming board, wherein the gaming ball detection device comprises: first detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through the predetermined region is within a first detection range; and second detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through the predetermined region is within a second detection range different from the first detection range, and one detection range of the first detection range or the second detection range is included in the other detection range.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-189741 filed on Jun. 29, 2005.

The contents of that application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a gaming machine comprising a gaming ball detection device for detecting a gaming ball having passed through a predetermined region of a gaming member.

2. Discussion of the Background

As such a kind of conventional gaming machines, mentioned is a pachinko gaming machine disclosed in JP-A 2002-360795. The gaming board face of this pachinko gaming machine is provided with a regular winning opening, a starting winning opening, a special winning opening, and the like. When a pachinko ball passes through these winning openings, a player can obtain a predetermined profit. These winning openings are provided with a passing ball sensor for detecting passage of the gaming ball. The passing ball sensor is a compound sensor including a first sensor and a second sensor on the upper and lower part of a gate, respectively, through which the gaming ball passes, for improvement in detection accuracy. A control portion determines that a gaming ball has passed through the gate only if the control portion receives a detection signal from the first sensor and then receives a detection signal from the second sensor. According to this configuration, in cases where a gaming ball not completely having passed through the gate hits the gate and rebounds therefrom, the first sensor detects the gaming ball, but the second sensor does not detect the gaming ball. Therefore, such a gaming ball is not determined to have passed through the gate. Moreover, in cases where the gaming ball nearly passes under the gate, the second sensor comes to detect the gaming ball firstly. Therefore, the gaming ball is not determined to have passed through the gate. This configuration can thus prevent false detection of the gaming ball.

As such pachinko gaming machines, mentioned is a pachinko gaming machine disclosed in JP-A 2003-175161, wherein a gaming ball is determined to have passed only if a time-lag of detection timing detected in each sensor constituting a compound sensor is within a predetermined time. A ball channel of this pachinko gaming machine is provided with a compound sensor composed of two sensors having different operational principals, that is, a photo sensor and a proximity sensor. A difference is generated in output timing of a detection signal outputted from each sensor at the time of detection of a gaming ball, the difference being determined depending on placement distance between each sensor. If the difference in the out put timing is within a predetermined time, the compound sensor determines that the gaming ball has passed. It is determined software-wise through a program processing in a main control substrate whether or not this difference in the detection timing is caused by passage of the gaming ball.

As mentioned above, in the pachinko gaming machine disclosed in JP-A 2003-175161, passage of the gaming ball is determined by measuring the difference in signal detection in each sensor constituting the compound sensor. However, it becomes a very complex operation for the program processing as a software to design a program for matching the passage timing of the gaming balls detected in each sensor constituting the compound sensor, so as not to generate the above-mentioned difference, since time axes used in measurement of the detection timing must be matched. Therefore, designing such a program makes design of a gaming machine difficult.

The contents of JP-A 2002-360795 and JP-A 2003-175161 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problem described above. The present invention is a gaming machine comprising a gaming ball detection device for detecting a gaming ball having passed through a predetermined region of a gaming member provided on a gaming board, wherein the gaming ball detection device comprises: first detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through the predetermined region is within a first detection range; and second detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through the predetermined region is within a second detection range different from the first detection range, and one detection range of the first detection range or the second detection range is included in the other detection range.

According to this configuration, when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, both the first detection means and the second detection means become capable of detecting passage of the gaming ball in one of the detection ranges thereof. Therefore, the gaming ball being within one detection range means that the gaming ball is certainly within the other detection range. Thus, it becomes possible to determine passage of the gaming ball hardware-wise by determining that the gaming ball has passed through the predetermined region of the gaming member only when both of the detection means detect the gaming ball. Accordingly, the gaming ball can be detected using the compound sensor without conventional complicated program design for matching a difference in detection time, which allows for easier design of the gaming machine.

Further, the present invention is the gaming machine,

wherein a physical quantity measured when the first detection means detects the gaming ball and a physical quantity measured when the second detection means detects the gaming ball are of different kinds.

According to this configuration, when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, the first detection means measures a predetermined physical quantity and thereby detects passage of the gaming ball, and the second detection means measures a physical quantity different from the predetermined physical quantity and thereby detects passage of the gaming ball. Therefore, even if noise or illegal operation, which may affect the physical quantity measured by one detection means, is caused, the other detection means can measure the physical quantity without being affected by the noise or the illegal operation, thereby enabling accurate detection of the passage of the gaming ball. Accordingly, in this configuration, the disadvantage of independent use of each detection means can be eliminated, false detection or illegal action can be prevented, and accuracy in detecting the gaming ball can be improved.

Further, the present invention is the gaming machine,

wherein the first detection means comprises a photo sensor for measuring a change in amount of light emitted from a light emitting element and received by a light receiving element to thereby detect the gaming ball passing through the predetermined region; and the second detection means comprises a magnetic sensor for measuring a change in a magnetic field generated by magnetic field generation means to thereby detect the gaming ball passing through the predetermined region.

According to this configuration, when the gaming ball passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, each of the photo sensor and the magnetic sensor detects the gaming ball. Therefore, an illegal action using radio wave (so-called “radiowave goto”) is prevented by the photo sensor and an illegal action using a flash device which emits light (so-called “flash goto”) is prevented by the magnetic sensor.

Further, the present invention is the gaming machine,

wherein the photo sensor and the magnetic sensor are disposed along a moving direction of the gaming ball, and the photo sensor is located between the magnetic field generation means and the magnetic sensor.

According to this configuration, the detection range of the magnetic sensor includes the detection range of the photo sensor. Therefore, when the gaming ball moves to pass through the predetermined region of the gaming member, the gaming ball is detected also by the photo sensor while being detected by the magnetic sensor.

The gaming machine of the present invention allows for detection of the gaming ball using the compound sensor without conventional complicated program design for matching the difference in detection time, as mentioned above. Therefore, the gaming machine can be easily designed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a pachinko gaming machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a transparent gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the rear face of the transparent gaming board shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a winning ball collecting gutter assembly provided on the rear face of the transparent gaming board shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6(a) is a side view showing a structure of a passing ball sensor for use in the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6(b) is a plan view showing the structure of the passing ball sensor for use in the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6(c) is a perspective view showing the structure of the passing ball sensor for use in the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an electronic circuit for processing and controlling the game operation of the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 8(a) to 8(d) are timing charts showing output timing of a detection signal from the photo sensor and the magnetic sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will, hereinafter, be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment. The pachinko gaming machine 10 comprises in the midsection of the front face thereof a transparent gaming board 12 where a pachinko game is played. A liquid crystal display device 13 c provided at the rear of the transparent gaming board 12 is seen through from the face of the transparent gaming board 12. Below the transparent gaming board 12, a tray unit 11 b including an upper tray 11 b ₁ and a lower tray 11 b ₂ is provided. A launching handle 1 is provided to the right of the lower tray 11 b ₂.

The midsection of the transparent gaming board 12 is provided with a special symbol display section 12 a for visually identifying special symbols displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13 c. A passing gate (not shown) is provided on either side of the special symbol display section 12 a. Further, the lower part of the transparent gaming board 12 is provided with a starting winning opening 12 b. When a pachinko ball as the gaming ball launched to the board face by the operation of the launching handle 1 enters the starting winning opening 12 b, special symbols are variably displayed in the special symbol display section 12 a of the liquid crystal display device 13 c to start a special symbol game. When the special symbols displayed in the special symbol display section 12 a are aligned in a predetermined combination for a big hit, a big hit winning is generated and a big hit game is thus played. Further, on either side of the starting winning opening 12 b, a regular winning opening 12 c is provided for disbursing a predetermined number of winning balls, for example ten winning balls, upon entry of the pachinko ball thereinto. The winning balls are disbursed to the upper tray 11 b ₁ of the tray unit 11 b, but disbursed to the lower tray 11 b ₂ when the upper tray 11 b ₁ is full. Moreover, below the starting winning opening 12 b provided is a special winning opening (attacker) 12 d, in which a door is opened and closed in the big hit game which is played when the big hit winning is generated. Below the special winning opening 12 d provided is an outlet 12 e which pachinko balls having entered none of the winning openings 12 b to 12 d enter.

The big hit game starts when the special symbols are stopped and displayed in a combination for the big hit winning at the end of the special symbol game. And for example, 15 rounds of games are played at the maximum, in each of which the special winning opening 12 d is kept open until a predetermined number of the pachinko balls, for example ten pachinko balls, enter the special winning opening 12 d, or until a predetermined time, for example 30 seconds, has passed. When the pachinko ball having entered the special winning opening 12 d enters a specific region called a V-zone provided inside the special winning opening 12 d during each round, the player can continue the game to the next round. However, when the pachinko ball having entered the special winning opening 12 d does not enter the V-zone during each round, a so-called “blown-out state” occurs, and the big hit game is terminated at that round, even before completion of the 15 rounds. During the big hit game, effect is provided by means of illumination of an illumination device 11 a provided above the face of the transparent gaming board 12.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko gaming machine 10. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are shown by the same symbols as in FIG. 1 to omit the descriptions of those parts.

A middle frame 13 is fixed to the front face of a rectangular wooden frame 14 to constitute the pachinko gaming machine 10. The middle frame 13 constitutes a rear mechanism board positioned at the rear of the transparent gaming board 12, along with the liquid crystal display device 13 c to be fixed to the rear face of the middle frame 13. The middle frame 13 comprises a below-described launching solenoid 13 d (see FIG. 7) for launching the pachinko ball, and others. The middle frame 13 is pivotally supported on the left side of the wooden frame 14 so as to be opened and closed on the front face of the wooden frame 14. The transparent gaming board 12 is fixed to the midsection of the front face of the middle frame 13, and a pair of speakers 13 b, 13 b, from which sound effect and the like of the game is provided, are fixed to the upper part of the middle frame 13. Further, the foregoing launching handle 1 is fixed to the right lower part of the front face of the middle frame 13. The transparent gaming board 12 and the speakers 13 b, 13 b are covered with a glass door 11, and from the transparent glass part of the glass door 11, seen is the face of the transparent gaming board 12. The upper part of the glass door 11 is provided with the foregoing illumination device 11 a. The illumination device 11 a comprises an illumination LED (Light Emitting Diode) 11 a ₂, and a lens cover 11 a ₁ for covering the illumination LED 11 a ₂, to constitute an effect device for providing effect of the pachinko game. Moreover, the foregoing tray unit 11 b is fixed to the lower part of the middle frame 13.

To a rectangular opening in the midsection of the rear face of the middle frame 13, fixed is the liquid crystal display device 13 c so as to be opposed to the transparent gaming board 12. And a ball disbursement unit 15 a and a substrate case unit 15 b are further fixed so as to cover the liquid crystal display device 13 c from the rear thereof. The left side of the ball disbursement unit 15 a and the right side of the substrate case unit 15 b are pivotally supported on the middle frame 13, and the ball disbursement unit 15 a and the substrate case unit 15 b open in the form of double doors to expose the rear face of the liquid crystal display device 13 c. The liquid crystal display device 13 c provides effect display according to the gaming state or the like, on the front face, and displays special symbols in the special symbol display section 12 a as described above. The ball disbursement unit 15 a supplies pachinko balls, the number of which depends on a winning result, to the upper tray 11 b ₁ and the lower tray 11 b ₂. The substrate case unit 15 b houses a main control substrate 30, a sub-control substrate 40, a disbursement and launching control substrate 60 (see FIG. 7) and the like, as described below, for controlling the game operation, the effect display, the ball launching and the like.

FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a transparent gaming board 12. In this figure, the same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown by the same symbols as in FIGS. 1 and 2 to omit the descriptions of those parts.

The transparent gaming board 12 comprises a substantially circular game region 12A, and a substantially circular arc-shaped ball launching region 12B provided along the game region 12A from the left lower part of the game region 12A toward the slightly upper side of the midsection thereof. The game region 12A is provided with the foregoing winning openings 12 b to 12 d (not shown in this figure) and the like. The ball launching region 12B is a region for inducing the pachinko ball launched by the operation of the launching handle 1 into the game region 12A. The ball launching region 12B and the game region 12A are parted from each other with a return prevention member 12 f. This return prevention member 12 f serves to prevent the pachinko ball in the game region 12A from returning to the ball launching region 12B, and is formed of a plate body having elasticity.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the configuration of the rear face of the transparent gaming board 12. In FIG. 4, the same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown by the same symbols as in FIGS. 1 and 2 to omit the descriptions of those parts.

The midsection of the rear face of the transparent gaming board 12 is provided with a warp channel 12 i. A warp inlet, not shown in the figure, for inducing the pachinko ball to the warp channel 12 i is open to the front face of the transparent gaming board 12. The pachinko ball having entered the warp inlet disappears from the face of the transparent gaming board 12 and passes through the warp channel 12 i. Then, the pachinko ball exits from a warp outlet, not shown, in the figure, to appear on the face of the transparent gaming board 12. The warp outlet is provided above the starting winning opening 12 b, and therefore the pachinko ball, which enters the warp inlet and exits from the warp outlet to the front face of the transparent gaming board 12 to flow down, easily enters the starting winning opening 12 b.

The lower part of the rear face of the transparent gaming board 12 is provided with a winning ball collecting gutter assembly 70 for collecting the pachinko balls having entered each of the foregoing winning openings 12 b to 12 d through each of the ball channels 70 a to 70 e. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the winning ball collecting gutter assembly 70 shown in FIG. 4. Slots 71 to 74 shown in FIG. 5 and formed respectively in the ball channels 70 a to 70 e of the winning ball collecting gutter assembly 70, are each provided with a below-described passing ball sensor 100 (see FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c)) for detecting passage of the pachinko ball. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, hollow parts 75, 76 shown in FIG. 5 are provided with a starting winning opening solenoid 24 and a special winning opening solenoid 25 (see FIG. 7) respectively, as described below.

The right lower part of the rear face of the transparent gaming board 12 is provided with a main relay substrate 80 and a sub-relay substrate 90. The main relay substrate 80 relays each electric connection of the main control substrate 30 housed in the substrate case unit 15 b with each of the passing ball sensors 100 provided in the winning ball collecting gutter assembly 70, and the like. The sub-relay substrate 90 relays each electric connection of the sub-control substrate 40 housed in the substrate case unit 15 b with the illumination LED 11 a ₂, and the like.

The sub-relay substrate 90 is provided with a connector 91, to which the illumination LED 11 a ₂ controlled by a sub-control circuit configured on the sub-control substrate 40, is connected. The sub-relay substrate 90 is also provided with a connector 92 to which the sub-control substrate 40 is connected. The connector 91 and the illumination LED 11 a ₂ which is fixed to the upper edge of the transparent gaming board 12 are electrically connected to each other with a harness, not shown in the figure. Further, the sub-control substrate 40 and the connector 92 are also connected electrically to each other with a harness (not shown). The sub-relay substrate 90 is provided with a connector group besides the connectors 91, 92. To the connector group, connected are a variety of actuators and the like, the actuators being fixed to the transparent gaming board 12 controlled by the sub-control circuit.

The main relay substrate 80 is held on the rear face of the transparent gaming board 12 by a substrate holder 81. The main relay substrate 80 is provided with: below-described actuators such as a starting winning opening solenoid 24, a special winning opening solenoid 25, a V-zone induction device 34 (see FIG. 7), which are controlled by a main control circuit configured on the main control substrate 30; a connector to which a plurality of the passing ball sensors 100 provided on the foregoing ball channels 70 a to 70 e, and the like, are connected; and a connector 88 connected to the main control substrate 30. The main control substrate 30 and the connector 88 are also connected electrically to each other with a harness, not shown in the figure, as in the sub-control substrate 40 and the connector 92 described above.

FIG. 6(a) is a side view showing the structure of the foregoing passing ball sensor 100 as a complex sensor comprising a photo sensor 101 and a magnetic sensor 102. FIG. 6(b) is a plan view thereof. FIG. 6(c) is a perspective view thereof.

In a housing case having a passing hole 101 a formed therein, the photo sensor 101 is configured by comprising: an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 103 as a light emitting element; a PD (Photo-receiving Diode) 104 as a light receiving element; a reflection plate 105 for reflecting light emitted from the LED 103 toward the PD 104; and a circuit substrate, not shown in the figure, configured with a circuit for drive-controlling the LED 103 and the PD 104. The LED 103, the PD 104 and the reflection plate 105 are provided such that the LED 103 and the PD 104 are opposed to the reflection plate 105 along the inner wall face of the passing hole 101 a as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 6(b). Moreover, the circuit substrate is provided with an input and output terminal, and through this input and output terminal, the circuit substrate and the main control substrate 30 (see FIG. 7) are electrically connected to each other through a connector provided on the main relay substrate 80.

When the pachinko ball P is not passing through the passing hole 101 a, the PD 104 receives light emitted from the LED 103 through the reflection plate 105. At this time, a high-level detection signal is outputted from the photo sensor 101 as mentioned below (see FIG. 8(b)). On the other hand, when the pachinko ball P approaches the passing hole 101 a as indicated by an arrow shown in FIG. 6(a) and then passes through a light axis A of the light emitted from the LED 103, the photo sensor 101 begins to detect passage of the pachinko ball P. And while the pachinko ball P is passing through the first detection range that is a passing region of the light emitted from the LED 103, the light emitted from the LED 103 is cut off by the pachinko ball P passing through the passing hole 101 a. Therefore, the light is not received in the PD 104. During this time, a low-level detection signal (ON signal) is outputted from the photo sensor 101 as mentioned below (see FIG. 8(b), time t1 to t4). Each of the winning openings 12 b to 12 d and the passing gate constitute the gaming member provided on the transparent gaming board 12. Each of the winning openings 12 b to 12 d and an opening region of the passing gate constitute the predetermined region of the gaming member. The photo sensor 101 constitutes the first detection means for detecting that the pachinko ball P passing through the predetermined region of the gaming member is within the first detection range. In the present embodiment, as mentioned above, the change in amount of light emitted from the LED 103 and received by the PD 104 is measured to thereby detect the pachinko ball P passing through the predetermined region of the gaming member.

The magnetic sensor 102 is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the photo sensor 101. The magnetic sensor 102 is configured by comprising, in each of two rectangular parallelepiped housing cases: a Hall element 106 for causing a Hall effect as one of galvanomagnetic effects; a permanent magnet 107 as magnetic field generation means for generating a static magnetic field; and a circuit substrate, not shown in the figure, on which a circuit for calculating a Hall voltage generated in the Hall element 106 is configured. The Hall element 106 and the permanent magnet 107 are provided on each side face of the upper housing case and the lower housing case of the magnetic sensor 102 facing the passing hole 101 a of the photo sensor 101 and disposed along the moving direction of the pachinko ball P, as indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b). The photo sensor 101 is located between the Hall element 106 and the permanent magnet 107. In the Hall element 106, the circuit substrate is provided with an input and output terminal, and through this input and output terminal, the circuit substrate and the main control substrate 30 (see FIG. 7) are electrically connected to each other with the connector provided on the main relay substrate 80, as in the photo sensor 101.

When the pachinko ball P is not passing through the passing hole 101 a, the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 107 does not change, and the Hall voltage generated in the Hall element 106 also remains constant and does not change. At this time, a high-level detection signal is outputted from the magnetic sensor 102 as mentioned below (see FIG. 8(a)). On the other hand, when the pachinko ball P approaches the passing hole 101 a and passes through the light axis A of the light emitted from the LED 103 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6(a), the magnetic sensor 102 begins to detect passage of the pachinko ball P. And while the pachinko ball P is passing through the second detection range that is a range strongly affected by the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 107, the Hall element 106 detects a change in the static magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 107. During this time, a low-level detection signal (ON signal) is outputted from the magnetic sensor 102 as mentioned below (see FIG. 8(a), time t1 to t5). The magnetic sensor 102 constitutes the second detection means for detecting that the pachinko ball P passing through the predetermined region of the gaming member is within the second detection range different from the above-mentioned first detection range of the photo sensor 101. In the present embodiment, the Hall element 106 measures the change in the static magnetic field generated by the permanent magnetic 107 to thereby detect the pachinko ball P passing through the predetermined region of the gaming member.

The photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 constitute the gaming ball detection device for detecting the pachinko ball P having passed through the predetermined region of the gaming member provided on the transparent gaming board 12. The second detection range of the magnetic sensor 102 includes the first detection range of the photo sensor 101. In the present embodiment, the respective sensors 101 and 102 are each disposed such that rising timings of the ON signals at the time of detection of the pachinko ball P by the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 are in synchronization with each other. The detection signal is outputted into a main CPU 31 (see FIG. 7) from each sensor of the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 simultaneously when each of the sensors 101 and 102 redundantly detects the pachinko ball P simultaneously. In the present embodiment, the detection signal is determined to be effective only when the detection signal is simultaneously outputted from each of the sensors 101 and 102. And when the CPU 31 identifies the effective detection signal, the CPU 31 determines that the pachinko ball P has passed through the predetermined region of the gaming member.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an electronic circuit for processing and controlling the game operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment. This electronic circuit includes a main control circuit provided on the main control substrate 30, a sub-control circuit provided on the sub-control substrate 40, and a disbursement and launching control circuit provided on a disbursement and launching control substrate 60, and the like. The main control circuit performs an electric control with regard to progress in pachinko game on the transparent gaming board 12, and a below-described electric control of the gaming machine on the transparent gaming board 12. The sub-control circuit performs an electric control of the effect device such as the illumination LED 11 a ₂, according to a command from the main control circuit. Further, the disbursement and launching control circuit controls disbursement of winning balls or the like and launching of the pachinko ball.

On the main control substrate 30, mounted are electronic components such as the main CPU 31, an initial reset circuit 32 and a serial communication IC 33. On the main control substrate 30, also mounted are a main ROM (Read Only Memory), not shown in the figure, where a program is stored for use by the main CPU 31 in processing and controlling the game operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10, and a main RAM (Random Access Memory), not shown in the figure, where data is temporarily stored while the game operation is processed and controlled. The initial reset circuit 032 generates a reset signal for deleting contents of a gaming state stored in the main RAM at the time of activating the main control circuit, and for initiating a game process according to the program stored in the main ROM. Moreover, the serial communication IC 33 serially transmits a control signal received from the main CPU 31 to the control substrates 40 and 60.

To the main control substrate 30, connected are: a gate switch 20 s, provided on the inner side of the foregoing passing gate, for detecting passage of the pachinko ball P through the passing gate; and a starting winning ball sensor 21 s for detecting the pachinko ball P having entered the starting winning opening 12 b. To the main control substrate 30, also connected are: a count switch 22 s for detecting the pachinko ball P having entered the special winning opening 12 d; a V-count switch 22 v for detecting the pachinko ball P having passed through the V-zone inside the special winning opening 12 d; and a regular winning ball sensor 23 s for detecting the pachinko ball P having entered the regular winning opening 12 c. Each of these switches 20 s, 22 s and 22 v and each of the sensors 21 s and 23 s are comprised of the foregoing passing ball sensor 100. To the main control substrate 30, connected are, as actuators: a starting winning opening solenoid 24 for extending a ball receiving slot of the starting winning opening 12 b; a special winning opening solenoid 25 for opening and closing the door of the special winning opening 12 d; a V-zone induction device 34 for inducing the pachinko ball P out of the V-zone after the pachinko ball P has entered the V-zone inside the special winning opening 12 d; and the like.

Each of the switches 20 s, 22 s and 22 v, each of the sensors 21 s and 23 s, and each of the actuators 24, 25 and 34 constitute a gaming device for carrying out a pachinko game, and are connected to the main control substrate 30 through the main relay substrate 80. When the passing ball sensor 100, which constitutes each of the switches 20 s, 22 s and 22 v and each of the sensors 21 s and 23 s, detects the pachinko ball P, the detection signal is inputted into the main CPU 31 of the main control substrate 30 through the main relay substrate 80. The main CPU 31 drives and controls each of the actuators 24, 25 and 34 according to the inputted detection signal.

The sub-control substrate 40 is connected to the liquid crystal display device (LCD) 13 c, the speakers 13 b, 13 b, and the illumination LED 11 a ₂ through the sub-relay substrate 90. The sub-control substrate 40 performs: an image display control of displaying an image on the liquid crystal display device 13 c; a sound control of providing sound effect from the speakers 13 b, 13 b; and an illumination control of light emission of the illumination LED 11 a ₂ according to a gaming state. On this sub-control substrate 40, mounted are a sub-CPU 41, a program ROM 42 and a work RAM 43. The sub-CPU 41 translates a control command received from the main control substrate 30 and sets a parameter of a VDP (Video Display Processor) 44. In the program ROM 42, a control program is stored for use by the sub-CPU 41 in processing and controlling each operation of the liquid crystal display device 13 c, the speakers 13 b, 13 b and the illumination LED 11 a ₂. The work RAM 43 serves as a temporary storage means at the time when the sub-CPU 41 processes and controls the operations according to the above-mentioned control program.

Further, on the sub-control substrate 40, mounted are an image data ROM 45, a VDP 44 and an initial reset circuit 46. The image data ROM 45 stores dot data for forming an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13 c. The VDP 44 reads the dot data in the image data ROM 45 according to the parameter set in the sub-CPU 41, to generate image data for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display device 13 c. The initial reset circuit 46 generates a reset signal for resetting the sub-control circuit on the sub-control substrate 40.

When the pachinko ball P enters the starting winning opening 12 b to generate starting winning, the main CPU 31 carries out a big hit determination process. The sub-control circuit gets special symbols to be sequentially stopped and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13 c in a mode corresponding to the result of the big hit determination process. When the game gets into a ready-to-win state where the right and left symbols are the same at the time of stoppage and display, a ready-to-win effect is provided by means of the special symbol and the image effect on the liquid crystal display device 13 c.

The speaker driving circuit comprises: a sound source IC 48 for generating an original signal of sound effect; a sound source data ROM 49 which is connected to the sound source IC 48 and stores the sound effect therein; an amplifier 50 for amplifying the original signal outputted from the sound source IC 48; and a volume change-over switch 51 for designating a volume output level of one volume level out of three volume levels. The speaker driving circuit controls the speakers 13 b, 13 b by means of a drive signal from the sub-CPU 41. A drive circuit 52 controls emission of the illumination LED 11 a ₂ according to the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 10 by means of a drive signal from the sub-CPU 41.

To the disbursement and launching control substrate 60, connected are: a disbursement device 61 for disbursing winning balls or the like and the launching solenoid 13 d driven according to the operation of the launching handle 1. The disbursement and launching control circuit configured on the disbursement and launching control substrate 60 drives and controls the disbursement device 61 according to a disbursement command signal outputted from the main control substrate 30 depending on entry of the pachinko ball P into each kind of the winning openings to disburse winning balls, while drive-controlling the launching solenoid 13 d according to the player's operation of the launching handle 1 to launch the pachinko ball P to the game region 12A.

In the above configuration, when the pachinko balls P having been launched to the game region 12A by the operation of the launching handle 1 enters the opening region of each of the winning openings 12 b to 12 d, the pachinko balls P passes through the passing hole 101 a of the passing ball sensor 100 provided in each of the slots 71 to 74 while being collected during the passage through the ball channels 70 a to 70 e. Further, upon passage of the pachinko ball P having been launched to the game region 12A through the passing gate, the pachinko ball P passes through the passing hole 101 a of the passing ball sensor 100 provided in the opening region of the passing gate. At this time, the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 output a low-level detection signal.

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are timing charts each showing output timing of the detection signal. FIG. 8(a) shows the detection signal outputted from the magnetic sensor 102. FIG. 8(b) shows the detection signal outputted from the photo sensor 101.

When the pachinko ball P approaches the passing hole 101 a and reaches the light axis A, the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 begin to detect the pachinko ball P. At this time, the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 each output the low-level detection signal simultaneously (see FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), time t1). When the pachinko ball P has passed through the passing hole 101 a and then moves out of the first detection range, the PD104 receives the light again. Then, the photo sensor 101 outputs the high-level detection signal again (FIG. 8(b), time t4). At this time, the pachinko ball P remains within the second detection range, and the magnetic sensor 102 continues to output the low-level detection signal (FIG. 8(a), time t4). When the pachinko ball P has passed through the passing hole 101 a and then moves out of the second detection range, the magnetic sensor 102 outputs the high-level detection signal again (FIG. 8(a), time t5).

If the pachinko ball P has passed through the passing hole 101 a and then another pachinko ball successively has passed through the passing hole 101 a, as in the above-mentioned case, each of the sensors 101 and 102 outputs the detection signal (see FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), time t6 to t10).

When the low-level detection signals from each of the sensors 101 and 102 are both input to the main CPU 31, the main CPU 31 determines that the pachinko ball P has passed through the passing hole 101 a, to perform a process for disbursing the pachinko ball according to the winning opening which the pachinko ball P entered or the passing gate through which the pachinko ball P passed.

According to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, as thus described, when the pachinko ball P passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, such as each of the wining openings 12 b to 12 d and the passing gate, passage of the pachinko ball P is detected also by the magnetic sensor 102 within the first detection range where the photo sensor 101 detects passage of the pachinko ball P. Thus, when the pachinko ball P is within one detection range, the pachinko ball P is certainly within the other detection range. Therefore, it becomes possible to determine passage of the pachinko ball P hardware-wise by determining that the pachinko ball P has passed through the predetermined region of the gaming member only when both of the sensors 101 and 102 detect the pachinko ball P.

On the other hand, in the conventional passing ball sensor, disclosed in the patent document 2, including a first sensor and a second sensor which are disposed in this order along the moving direction of a pachinko ball P, one detection range of the first sensor or the second sensor does not include the other detection range. FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d) are timing charts each showing output timing of the detection signal from each sensor in such a conventional passing ball sensor. FIG. 8(c) shows the detection signal outputted from the first sensor. FIG. 8(d) shows the detection signal outputted from the second sensor. As shown in FIGS. 8(c) and 8(d), each of the sensors simultaneously detects the pachinko ball P and outputs a low-level detection signal between time t2 and t4. However, only one of the sensors detects the pachinko ball P during a period Δt1 of between time t1 and t2, and during a period Δt2 of between time t3 and t4. It must be determined by an arithmetic operation through a software type processing of the CPU whether or not the periods Δt1 and Δt2 occur from passage of the pachinko ball P. Therefore, as mentioned above, the conventional passing ball sensor needs the complicated program design for matching the difference in detection time of the pachinko ball P to be detected by each sensor, in order to avoid this determination process of the CPU. However, in the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the detection time t1 to t5 of the magnetic sensor 102 includes the detection time t1 to t4 of the photo sensor 101, and it is determined that the pachinko ball P has passed only when each of the sensors 101 and 102 detects the pachinko ball P. Thereby, passage of the pachinko ball P can be determined by hardware. Accordingly, the pachinko ball P can be detected with accuracy using the compound sensor without the complicated program design for matching the difference in detection time. Therefore, the gaming machine 10 can be more easily designed. Further, in the present embodiment, the rising timings of the detection signals are in synchronization with each other in time t1. Therefore, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can be furthermore easily designed.

According to the present embodiment, when the pachinko ball P passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, the photo sensor 101 measures the amount of received light and thereby detects passage of the pachinko ball P, and the magnetic sensor 102 measures a change in the magnetic field different from the amount of the received light and thereby detects passage of the pachinko ball P. Therefore, even if noise or illegal operation, which may affect the amount of the received light or the magnetic field measured by one sensor, is caused, the other sensor can perform the measurement without being affected by the noise or the illegal operation. Thereby, passage of the pachinko ball P can be detected with accuracy. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the disadvantage of independent use of the photo sensor 101 or the magnetic sensor 102 can be eliminated, a false detection or an illegal action can be prevented, and detection accuracy of the pachinko ball P can be improved.

According to the present embodiment, when the pachinko ball P passes through the predetermined region of the gaming member, each of the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 detects the pachinko ball P. Therefore, an illegal action using radio wave (so-called “radiowave goto”) has no influence on the photo sensor 101 and is prevented by the photosenseor 101. An illegal action using a flash device and the like which emits light (so-called “flash goto”) has no influence on the magnetic sensor 102 and is prevented by the magnetic sensor 102.

According to the present embodiment, the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 are disposed along the moving direction of the pachinko ball P, and the photo sensor 101 is located between the permanent magnetic 107 and the Hall element 106. Therefore, the detection range of the magnetic sensor 102 (the second detection range) includes the detection range of the photo sensor 101 (the fist detection range) therein. As a result, when the pachinko ball P moves to pass through the predetermined region of the gaming member, the pachinko ball P is detected also by the photo sensor 101 while being detected by the magnetic sensor 102, as mentioned above.

The above embodiment describes the case where the Hall element is used as the element that causes the galvanomagnetic effect, but the magnetoresistive element also may be used in place of the Hall element.

According to this configuration, passage of the pachinko ball P through the predetermined region of the gaming member generates a change in magnetic field, in the static magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 107. This change in magnetic field generates a change in magnetoresistive effect generated as the galvanomagnetic effect inside the magnetoresistive element. And the main CPU 31 detects the change in magnetoresistive effect to identify the passage of the pachinko ball P through the predetermined region of the gaming member.

The above embodiment describes the case where the detection signal from the photo sensor 101 is determined to be effective only when the detection signal is outputted from the magnetic sensor 102 and it is determined that the pachinko ball P has passed through the passing hole 101 a when the low-level detection signals from the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 are inputted into the main CPU 31. However, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the following configuration may be employed: the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 are connected with the main CPU 31 through an AND circuit, and when the low-level detection signals from both of the photo sensor 101 and the magnetic sensor 102 are outputted into the main CPU 31, then the AND circuit outputs the detection signal into the main CPU 31, wherein the main CPU 31 determines that the pachinko ball P has passed through the predetermined region of the gaming member.

Further, the above embodiment describes the case where the permanent magnet 107 is used as the magnetic field generation means, but the magnetic field generation means is appropriately changeable so long as the means generates the static magnetic field.

Further, the above embodiment describes the case where a reflection-type photo sensor, in which the reflection plate 105 is arranged at a place opposed to the LED 103 and the PD 104, is used as the photo sensor 101. However, it is also possible to use a photo sensor without the reflection plate 105 where the LED 103 and the PD 104 are arranged so as to face each other.

The above embodiment describes the case where the gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine, but it is also possible to apply the present invention to another gaming machine comprising a gaming ball detection device for detecting a gaming ball having passed through a predetermined region of a gaming member. Also in the case of applying the present invention to such a gaming machine, a similar functional effect to that of the above embodiment is exerted. 

1. A gaming machine comprising a gaming ball detection device for detecting a gaming ball having passed through a predetermined region of a gaming member provided on a gaming board, wherein said gaming ball detection device comprises: first detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through said predetermined region is within a first detection range; and second detection means for detecting that a gaming ball passing through said predetermined region is within a second detection range different from said first detection range, and one detection range of said first detection range or said second detection range is included in the other detection range.
 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a physical quantity measured when said first detection means detects the gaming ball and a physical quantity measured when said second detection means detects the gaming ball are of different kinds.
 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein said first detection means comprises a photo sensor for measuring a change in amount of light emitted from a light emitting element and received by a light receiving element to thereby detect the gaming ball passing through said predetermined region; and said second detection means comprises a magnetic sensor for measuring a change in a magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generation means to thereby detect the gaming ball passing through said predetermined region.
 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein said photo sensor and said magnetic sensor are disposed along a moving direction of the gaming ball, and said photo sensor is located between said magnetic field generation means and said magnetic sensor. 